Download Windows Server 2012 R2

Finally Windows Server 2012 R2 is arrived! Here is the link to download and evaluate the latest version.

 

Download

Download IE 11 Release Preview for Windows Server 2008 R2

For installing Internet Explorer 11 Release Preview on Windows Server 2008 R2, you need the service pack 1 installed on the server. Here is the download link:

Download

Download “Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2” e-book

Microsoft released a free e-book about Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview Release by the name of “Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2”. You can download the e-book via the below link:

 

Download e-book

Download IE 11 Preview for Windows Server 2008 R2

Microsoft announced the Developer Preview of Internet Explorer 11 for Windows Server 2008 R2. For Installing, you need Service Pack 1 installed on Server 2008 R2. Here is the download link:

 

Download IE 11 Developer Preview

Installing Windows Server 2012 R2

I hope you downloaded Windows Server 2012 R2 edition. Now it is time to install and enjoy the new features.

So follow my steps:

1. The first screen that appears is Windows Setup, select your language, time and keyboard, and press Next, then Install now
2. Enter the product key, then hit Next
3. Select between Server Core Installation and Server with a GUI, and press Next. I select the GUI one
4. Accept the license terms and click on Next
5. Click on Custom: Install Windows Only (advanced). Because this is my first OS, and I do not want to upgrade it
6. Click on New, specify the space and hit Apply, then OK to create a new partition. Press Next button
7. Stay a while for Windows to be installed. The Server will restart automatically twice
8. When Windows starts again, type a strong password, reenter it, then press Finish
9. Wait some seconds for your settings to be finalized
10. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to sign in
11. Enter your password, then Enter
12. Have fun with your new Windows Server!

Download Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview

Microsoft announced the public preview of Windows Server 2012 R2.

 

Download Windows server 2012 R2 Preview

 

Download the Datasheet

Download the White Paper

Installing and configuring WSUS on Windows Server 2012

Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) is used to distribute Microsoft patches, hotfixes and security updates in an environment. WSUS is counted as a basis of security management  to make sure every computer is up to date and does not have any security vulnerabilities.

It is a role in Windows Server 2012, also it can be downloaded from Microsoft web site and installed on server.  

1. Open Server Manager console, click Add roles and features, then Next
2. Select Role-based or feature-based installation, and click Next
3. Choose Select a server from the server pool, select your desired server, then click Next
4. Scroll down to select Windows Server Update Services. Some features like .NET and IIS should be installed before WSUS installed. So hit Add Features button to install them. The click on Next 4 times.
5. On Content Location selection, you should specify a path for the updates to be stored locally. I will use C:\WSUS, and click Next, then Install
6. Wait some times for the installation to be completed. Then click on Close
7. Click Notifications on Server Manager window, then click on Launch Post-Installation tasks,wait again some moments
8. Go to Administrative Tools, and open Windows Server Update Services
9. At the first time, a wizard starts. Click on Next  twice
10. On next page, because it is the first WSUS server, select Synchronize from Microsoft Update, then click on Next
11. If you use a proxy server to connect to the Internet, specify its settings, and click Next
12. Click Start Connecting to download update information
13. Select Download updates only in these languages, and select the languages for which you want updates, then click Next
14. The next page lets you specify the products for which you want updates. Select them and click Next
15. The classifications page allows you to specify the update classifications you want to obtain. Select them as required , then click Next
16. If you choose Synchronize automatically, the WSUS server will synchronize at set intervals. Set the time of the First synchronization and specify the number of Synchronizations per day that you want this server to perform. And click Next
17. Leave the check boxes intact, and click Finish
18. The next step is to configure Group Policy to configure clients to be updated via WSUS server. So open Group Policy
19. Expand Computer Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand Windows Components, and then click Windows Update
20. In the details pane, double-click Configure Automatic Updates. Click Enabled, then OK
21. In the Windows Update details pane, double-click Specify intranet Microsoft update service location. Click Enabled, and specify the server name in both boxes. Here it is http://Server1.CyrusBesharat.local. Click OK
22. The computers take a while to be located in WSUS console. Be sure to approve the updates before deploying to the clients